Leading Indian psychiatrist: Homosexuality is unnatural, gays should seek treatment

MUMBAI – The former head of the national India Psychiatric Society described homosexuality as “unnatural” and that “homosexuals uncomfortable with their sexuality should seek psychiatric help.”

Dr. Indira Sharma

“The manner in which homosexuals have brought the talk of sex to the roads makes people uncomfortable,” Dr. Indira Sharma told the Times of India. “It’s unnatural.”

Sharma is a faculty member of the the Banaras Hindu University and former president of the Indian Psychiatric Society.

Her remarks echo those made at the society’s annual conference last week in which she participated in a panel discussion regarding the December 2013 ruling by India’s Supreme Court that overturned a lower court’s ruling decriminalizing same-sex relations.

Sharma said her main concern was for homosexuals aren’t comfortable with their sexuality, and suggested they should seek treatment.

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“There are some who are comfortable, but there are many who are not. The latter should realize they can get help (from psychiatrists). Some of them may even be able to change their orientation,” Sharma said.

She added that gays who are comfortable with their sexual orientation should be made aware that their behavior was causing a lot of uneasiness in society.